Public finance

UK faces ‘very difficult trade-offs’ in budget because of Iran war, say analysts

by The Guardian | Jul 28, 2026 | Andy Burnham, Bank of England, Budget, Budget deficit, Business, Economic policy, Economics, Government borrowing, Inflation, Iran, John Healey, Office for Budget Responsibility, Oil, Politics, Public finance, The Guardian, UK news, US-Israel war on Iran | 0 |

Leading thinktank says higher oil prices and inflation will give Andy Burnham a ‘challenging inheritance’Andy Burnham has been warned by a leading thinktank of “very difficult trade-offs in the next autumn budget” if the Iran...

‘Financial pandemic’: £1 in every £11 spent on UK public contractors goes to private equity

by The Guardian | Jun 28, 2026 | Business, Education policy, Local government, NHS, Politics, Private equity, Public finance, Public services policy, Society, Tax and spending, The Guardian, Transport policy, UK news | 0 |

Almost £24.4bn of government money went to private equity-run firms in year to April 2025, Guardian analysis shows‘Treating children like cattle’: what happens when private equity takes over a UK care home?Nurseries, vets and...

Labour has abandoned the missions that brought it to power. Here’s how Burnham could revive them. | Mariana Mazzucato

by The Guardian | Jun 28, 2026 | Economic growth (GDP), Economic policy, Economics, Labour, Politics, Public finance, Society, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

With a new prime minister incoming, Labour faces a fundamental question about its economic visionAs Keir Starmer stands down as prime minister and attention turns toward Andy Burnham, the current moment should not be reduced to...

Labour has abandoned the missions that brought it to power. Here’s how Burnham could revive them. | Mariana Mazzucato

by The Guardian | Jun 28, 2026 | Economic growth (GDP), Economic policy, Economics, Labour, Politics, Public finance, Society, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

With a new prime minister incoming, Labour faces a fundamental question about its economic visionAs Keir Starmer stands down as prime minister and attention turns toward Andy Burnham, the current moment should not be reduced to...

‘There’s a risk of another Liz Truss moment’: City raises spectre of bond market meltdown again

by The Guardian | May 14, 2026 | Bank of England, Banking, Bonds, Budget deficit, Business, Economic growth (GDP), Economic policy, Economics, Financial sector, Gilts, Government borrowing, Keir Starmer, Labour, Liz Truss, Louise Haigh, Politics, Public finance, Rachel Reeves, Society, Tax and spending, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

As Keir Starmer’s leadership totters, investors warn a Labour leadership contest ignoring public finances and market realpolitik could be disastrousA rise in borrowing costs and warnings to avoid a “Liz Truss moment”. As Keir...

‘Doge of the left’ could save UK taxpayers up to £30bn, says new green thinktank

by The Guardian | Mar 25, 2026 | Business, Crime, Economic growth (GDP), Economic policy, Economics, Green party, Politics, Privatisation, Public finance, Society, Tax and spending, Tax avoidance, The Guardian, Thinktanks, UK news | 0 |

Report by Verdant says rooting out waste, fraud and tax avoidance would save money that could help improve public servicesA “Doge of the left,” could save up to £30bn a year for taxpayers by rooting out waste, fraud and tax...

Labour MPs have no reason to oppose new welfare reforms, says minister

by The Guardian | Mar 16, 2026 | Apprenticeships, Benefits, Money, Pat McFadden, Politics, Public finance, Society, The Guardian, UK news, Unemployment, Welfare, Work & careers, Young people, Youth unemployment | 0 |

Pat McFadden unveils £1bn youth employment scheme and appeals for support from backbench MPs who rebelled over welfare last year Labour MPs have no reason to oppose a fresh government attempt to overhaul the welfare system, the...

Boost for chancellor as UK public finances see record-breaking surplus of £XXbn

by The Guardian | Feb 19, 2026 | Economic policy, Office for National Statistics, Politics, Public finance, Rachel Reeves, Society, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

Figure is largest January total since records began and marks sharp reversal from December’s deficit of £11.6bnThe UK government enjoyed a record-breaking surplus in January, official figures show, due to a big boost in...

Reform UK showcase Kent council faces ‘extreme risk’ after passing first budget

by The Guardian | Feb 13, 2026 | Kent, Local government, Politics, Public finance, Public sector cuts, Reform UK, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

Councillors vote for 3.99% council tax increase while mounting ‘attack on the vulnerable’, opposition saysReform UK’s showcase council in Kent faces “extreme risk” and “instability”, opposition politicians have warned, after it...

Reform UK’s Kent council faces ‘extreme risk’ after passing first budget

by The Guardian | Feb 13, 2026 | Kent, Local government, Politics, Public finance, Public sector cuts, Reform UK, The Guardian, UK news | 0 |

Councillors vote for 3.99% council tax increase while mounting ‘attack on the vulnerable’, opposition saysReform UK’s showcase council in Kent faces “extreme risk” and “instability”, opposition politicians have warned, after it...

Uber rewrites contracts with drivers to avoid paying UK’s new ‘taxi tax’

by The Guardian | Jan 2, 2026 | Business, Politics, Public finance, Tax and spending, Technology, The Guardian, Uber, UK news | 0 |

Hailing app will now act as agent rather than supplier outside London, avoiding VAT requirement, although change is not permitted in LondonUber has swerved paying millions of pounds to the UK exchequer under Rachel Reeves’s new...

Rachel Reeves targets UK’s wealthiest in £26bn tax-raising budget

by The Guardian | Nov 26, 2025 | Benefits, Bonds, Budget, Budget 2025, Budget deficit, Business, Child benefits, Children, Communities, Economic policy, Economics, Energy bills, Gilts, Government borrowing, Household bills, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Money, Motoring, Office for Budget Responsibility, Politics, Public finance, Rachel Reeves, Society, Tax and spending, The Guardian, Thinktanks, UK cost of living crisis, UK news, US Government borrowing | 0 |

Chancellor axes two-child benefit cap and cuts energy bills paid for by mansion tax and freezing tax thresholds Analysis: ‘Tax-raising budget crash-lands on struggling economy’Budget 2025: key points at a glanceBudget 2025: what...

Category: Public finance